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Behind every NaTakallam lesson is a powerful story of connection. Meet the Language Partners (and their students) bringing learning – and impact – to life!
Behind every NaTakallam session is a story, a connection, and a chance to make a real impact.
Join a global community. Start a conversation today with a free trial session.
A Different Kind of Duo: Meet Our Language Partners
In an age when social media and the internet promise to connect us all, many of us – whether refugees, displaced individuals or more privileged ones in stable homes – feel more isolated than ever. Displacement, conflict and misunderstanding leave the world fragmented.
A 2023 study on the relationship between language learning and empathy argues that learning another language is crucial in building empathy and “acquiring another person’s perspective”, especially in intercultural communications. Learning remains one of the most helpful tools – not just to pick up a new language, but to stand against dehumanization and “othering” of those with different languages, cultural contexts or backgrounds than what is familiar.
For many learner-tutor duos at NaTakallam, language sessions have turned into much more than a grammar or vocabulary lesson. Each session is an opportunity to connect beyond cultural, linguistic and personal differences, and discover what they share. Together they learn from one another while directly contributing to the improvement of the tutors’ livelihoods – proving that empathy through language learning can improve intercultural understanding and create a meaningful impact at the same time.
By connecting through NaTakallam, learners and their tutors have built friendships, identified commonalities and differences through culture and turned language into a tool of resilience.
Join a community of connection, one conversation at a time and book a free trial session today.
Pick from any of our 9+ languages and dialects and book a FREE trial!
From Conversation to Friendship: Shahd & Kari
Shahd has been a Language Partner with NaTakallam for more than 3 years. She fled the Gaza strip for Egypt early 2024 along with her mother and some of her siblings, thanks in part to fundraising initiatives from her NaTakallam students. Through a scholarship, she was able to move to the U.S. to pursue a joint degree in Human Rights and Written Arts.
She finds education to be a tool to navigate ongoing challenges. Having studied English literature and education methods, she believes her writing ensures that the voices of marginalized and displaced individuals are being heard. Her academic experience reinforces her commitment to human rights and cross-cultural understanding.
As a Language Partner, she tailors her lessons based on her students’ needs by using a combination of visual aids, fun activities and cultural discussions to make each session enjoyable and impactful. Her professionalism enabled her and her students to become a trusting community.
Her connection to her students goes beyond teaching. Shahd claims her students have challenged her, taught her and helped her grow. NaTakallam has become more than work, it has turned into a community.
Kari initially booked NaTakallam lessons with Shahd to “practice more conversational Arabic to be able to speak to my aunts and uncles”. What she found went beyond conversation. Over time, they became friends and built trust. This eventually resulted in Kari initiating the GoFundMe campaign that enabled Shahd Safi to flee from Gaza. The fundraising was made possible by the students who knew and trusted her.
For both Shahd and Kari, what started as a simple language lesson has become something much more impactful: a powerful bridge of understanding and support.
Their language sessions at NaTakallam have exceeded the purpose of learning and teaching to become a true, human experience, making meaningful connections along the way.
Start a conversation, find a friend.
Finding Connection through Culture: Pavel, Anna & Graham
Anna and Graham both meet with Pavel on a weekly basis to brush up on their Spanish skills.
Anna declares “I really love my sessions with Pavel. It’s so amazing to me that I can actually have a conversation in Spanish”.
Pavel rejoices in these victories.
Having fled political turmoil in Venezuela, Pavel reconstructed his life in La Plata, Argentina. Since he became a Language Partner at NaTakallam, he built his sessions around empathy, personal connections and helping the students through patience and cultural exchange. He believes this kind of approach “will change your view about how a language can be learned”.
Graham finds Pavel very responsive to his needs and extremely knowledgeable. Beyond Pavel’s professionalism, Graham also praises his open-mindedness and his great sense of humor.
The many hardships Pavel has overcome as a refugee with a disability – from being unable to complete his degree in Modern Languages and Psychology, to rebuilding an entirely new life in an unfamiliar place – serve as the foundation for his love for teaching and the many stories he has to share. His experiences also highlight how intersecting factors – such as disability, forced displacement, and cultural adaptation – can amplify challenges, shaping the resilience and perspectives of individuals around the world.
One of Pavel’s favorite aspects of teaching at NaTakallam is getting to share the “real aspects” of his culture, not what the news or the books say, but the real, authentic stories of lived experiences.
Learn about the real nuances of Spanish, Arabic, or Persian cultures with one of NaTakallam’s Language Partners.
Pick from any of our 9+ languages and dialects and book a FREE trial!
Language as Resilience: Leila & Meg
Leila joined NaTakallam to make up for her difficulty to find employment in Iran despite her extensive academic career. An accomplished scholar, she obtained her university degrees and PhD in archeology from Tehran University, and later completed an additional degree at Berlin University.
As an outspoken woman, her experience has not always been smooth which made her value education and its power even more. She is committed to making a difference in her students’ lives. She believes education to be a means of fostering resilience and hope. This approach has led her to work with marginalized communities and young students.
An advocate for change, equality, and education, she personalizes each session to her students’ needs. Through games, conversation, and interactive exercises she wants to connect her students to the broader world and shared experiences.
“Teaching is not just about sharing knowledge, it’s about connecting hearts and minds across cultures”. – Leila
Leila claims engagement is a “two-way street”. She particularly enjoyed teaching Meg, a dedicated Farsi student. For them, NaTakallam provides the platform to bring together individuals who – in Leila’s own words – “remind us of the warmth of humanity, especially in these challenging dark times”.
Meg also reflects on her lessons with Leila:
Leila’s approach to teaching students such as Meg is built on her desire to empower future generations of scholars and intellectuals, especially as she believes language to be a tool to bridge gaps between cultures helping young people build better futures.
Behind the Scenes
Whether it is Arabic, Persian, or Spanish, here is how your language learning journey starts – and how we ensure tailor-made learning that drives impact and connection.
It all starts with you – and your drive to learn and make a difference. Our matching process involves really getting to know you – not only your availability or your current language level, but also your goals, passions, purpose and any other interests you’re looking to spark conversations around.
With this information, the NaTakallam pairing team understands you, your pace and aspirations. The goal is to find a real partner, not just a time slot.
Why It Matters
At NaTakallam, we believe language is more than just a way to express basic needs. It’s a bridge to connection, to better understanding and to tighter communities. Through our tailored language courses, we offer a different kind of learning.
While supporting our learners’ goals, every lesson also supports our tutors. By connecting displaced individuals through the very language you’re learning, you’re contributing to their livelihoods and building meaningful social connections – not to mention engaging in important linguistic and cultural preservation efforts that expand your mind and worldview.
Learning at NaTakallam is realizing how powerful and transformative language is.
Many of our tutors and learners have found connections beyond learning to create real, long-lasting human bonds.
For Shahd, this was life changing as support from her students enabled her and parts of a family to flee.
“My entire economic survival depends on my job with NaTakallam” Pavel shares this as he explains how his language sessions help him with rent, food, expenses, and family support.
Leila found employment, both Shahd and Pavel were able to relocate, sustain themselves, and build their life in part thanks to the financial support that NaTakallam gave them.
Learning with NaTakallam takes you beyond the classroom. It makes a real impact on our Language Partners’ lives – and on yours.
What are you waiting for?
Learn a language. Make a friend. Try a language session in one of our 9+ languages.
Kenza Lavallard Fadlane
Kenza is an intern at NaTakallam, currently completing her Master's Degree in International Affairs from the University of Saint Gallen, Switzerland. She is passionate about human rights and media.
